Direct Line

We spend a fortune paying for them, filling them up and keeping them on the road, but recent research from Direct Line Motor Insurance has revealed that the UK spends nearly £50 million in fuel every winter just defrosting their cars! That's 82.5 million kilogrammes of CO2 and over 34 million litres of fuel, enough to drive around the world more than 13,000 times. And that's not all, four in ten drivers risk being uninsured by leaving their cars unattended, with keys in the ignition and the engine running, making thieves' lives a whole lot easier.

Direct Line have compiled a series of handy tips to secure your car, save fuel and help the environment this winter:

- Park your car in a garage whenever possible
- Invest in a windscreen frost guard or a car cover (depending on the size of your vehicle), or just use an old blanket
- Spray your windows with night before aerosol sprays to prevent ice from building on the glass
- Purchase a cheap de-icer aerosol and scraper for quick and easy ice removal without leaving your vehicle unattended